Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The motto continues: The Minnesota Vikings cannot have nice things.
Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will hit the shelf indefinitely, the team announced Tuesday, just 26 days before the start of the regular season. McCarthy tore his meniscus in Saturday’s preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Vikings’ social media team tweeted minutes before Kevin O’Connell held an impromptu Zoom press conference: “Head Coach Kevin O’Connell announces that J.J. McCarthy will undergo a procedure for a torn meniscus in his right knee.”
And that’s that on McCarthy’s rookie summer, as his recovery will bleed into the regular season, almost no matter what.
O’Connell also added, “What’s best for the long-term health of J.J. McCarthy will be the priority.” The squad travels to Cleveland on Tuesday for joint practices with the Browns, and McCarthy will obviously not make the trip.
The McCarthy injury invokes bad Vikings-themed memories — from Teddy Bridewater’s tragic Minnesota ending in 2016, Sam Bradford’s problematic knee, all the way back to Daunte Culpepper’s demise in Twin Cities — knee injuries to high-profile, promising Vikings quarterbacks.
Minnesota’s skipper also said, “As far as the timeline of the injury, that will be something determined during the procedure,” referring to a “clean up” of the meniscus or a full tear.
McCarthy’s injury fully clears a path for veteran passer Sam Darnold to start Week 1 against the New York Giants, a plan that likely would’ve occurred with or without McCarthy’s grim meniscus development. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old will miss out on valuable reps in the preseason and practice, with his timeline to return totally up in the air. And because this brand of Vikings leadership has a documented history of taking it gingerly with injury recoveries, there’s a scenario where McCarthy is sidelined for the entirety of his rookie campaign out of an abundance of caution.
Minnesota’s offseason is no stranger to tragedy and turmoil, either. Cornerback Khyree Jackson passed away in a tragic Maryland car accident last month, while second-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL at the start of training camp, ending his 2024 season. The Vikings also have tight end T.J. Hockenson and cornerback NaJee Thompson on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
McCarthy played wonderfully three days ago in the preseason, diming 188 passing yards and 2 touchdowns over Las Vegas. The young Wolverine took a couple of drives to settle in but later looked very much like a 10th-overall pick in the draft.
Now, the masses await an update on his surgery.
The Vikings’ next preseason game occurs on Saturday at Cleveland, where Darnold and his teammates Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall will likely undertake quarterbacking duties.
It’s also worth noting that McCarthy probably wouldn’t have played at the beginning of the regular season, regardless of his injury recovery timeline. Many eyed Week 7 or so for his theoretical go-live date, which could align with his return.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
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